Surface drains



March 5, 1957 M. A.'s|sK SURFACE BRAINS 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20, 1952 E a M 71: 3 M f .m L r x i w/ z I, 5 2 0., m 4 4 4 4 3 2% March 5, 1957 M. A. slsK 2,783,852

SURFACE DRAINS Filed May 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

xrroeA/fyy SURFACE BRAINS Martin A. Sisk, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,774

6 Claims. (Cl. 182-491) My invention relates to surface drains, or access boxes or the like, for use in the floors of shower bath enclosures, roadways, decks of ships, floors and roofs of buildings, and the like, to provide debris-excluding protection at the inlets of drain openings or pipes. The structure of the invention will also find utility as a guard for pipes and openings of any sort in which liquid is received, and in the operation of which it is desirable to exclude solids of a size that might clog the opening, or the pipe leading therefrom.

In general, an outlet or floor drain of the type in mind consists in a cup-shaped body that is installed within or below the structure whose surface is to be drained, and the inlet of the body is covered by a removable top or grate.

In the usual prior structures the grate consists in a perforate cover of metal which rests at its periphery in a rabbeted seat formed in the rim of the body of the drain, and most of the Water entering the drain does so through holes or openings in the cover or grate located inwardly from the rim of the drain body, with the result that the flowing water does not completely flush the inner surface of the side Wall of the drain body. Consequently, debris carried by the waste water tends to accumulate on such surface of the drain body, especially just below the grate, and between the seat in the drain body and the edge of the grate. The accumulated debris over a period of time decomposes, creating foul odors and unsanitary conditions.

My present invention includes a drain structure having a peripheral slot whose outer edge is vertically aligned, or substantially so, with the inner surface of the drain body. This slot is effective throughout the periphery of the drain body inlet, and the internal surfaces of the drain body extend from this slot downwardly to the drain out let, or to the inlet of the drain pipe on which the drain body is mounted, affording a clear unrestricted downsweep for the flow of the draining water. No ledges, channels, or crevices are present in the structure, on which or in which debris may accumulate.

In many cases it is desirable to provide for the renewal of the tops or grates of the drain structures, whereby the tops or grates may be formed of relatively expensive and highly finished metal. This permits, but does not require, the unexposed bodies of the drains to be economically constructed of less costly materials.

Such grates may be changed from one style or finish to another at any time after installation, in order to correct errors which often occur in specifying, ordering, or shipping drain structures. Again, this renewable feature permits the refinishing of grates that have become multilated or disfigured in service.

In those drain constructions where the rim of the drain body is normally exposed at the surface to be drained, I may advantageously provide finish rims on the drain bodies, with the consequence and effect that drain bodies of inexpensive metals may at their rims have any desired finish of polished or more costly metal. Such finish rims States atent G F 2,783,852 Patented Mar. 5,

may be readily removed and renewed, along with the grate or not, without marring the floor surface, or without interrupting the functioning of the drain in service.

The invention also contemplates the provision of adapter rims for drain bodies, whereby a more or less standardized line of drain bodies of economical construction may be adapted to various drain installations and various types of grates, with or without non-clog strainers arranged within the drain bodies below the grates.

It will be understood, therefore, that my present invention is particularly, if not exclusively, concerned with the drain structures having improved renewable grates, and/ or finish rim-s, and/or adapter rims, while providing for the clean flushing of the drain bodies in service, as set forth in my copending application for Letters Patent, noted at the end of this specification.

The invention will be understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan of a drain embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of said drain in vertical section, on the planes indicated at Il-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, showing in vertical section and on larger scale certain modifications in the construction of the drain; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are views, illustrating still other variations in the structure of the invention.

In general, an outlet or floor drain of the type in mind consists in a cup-shaped body that is embedded in the floor structure whose surface is to be drained, and the inlet of the body is covered by a removable grate whose upper face lies flush with such surface. The body of the drain forms a belled terminus at the end of a drain pipe laid beneath or within the floor structure.

in the usual prior structures the grate, consisting in a perforate plate of metal, rests at its periphery in a rabbeted seat formed in the rim of the cup-shaped body of the drain, and the water enters the drain through holes in the grating that are located inwardly from the rim of the drain body and/or are restricted at the rim of the grate, with the result that the flowing water does not completely flush or wash the inner surfaces of the side wall of the drain body. Consequently, debris carried by the waste water tends to accumulate on such surface of the drain body, especially just below the grate, and between the seat and the edge of the grate. The accumulated debris over a period of time is subject to decomposition, creating foul odors and unsanitary conditions. In order to cleanse such drains, it is necessary to remove the grate and scrub or scrape away the accumulationsmanifestly a disagreeable task. An important feature of this invention resides in the elimination of these objectionable conditions.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the drain body will be seen to comprise two castings 2a and 2b united in a threaded engagement 2c. The castings may be of iron, or a more expensive metal, if desired. The upper body or collar portion 2a of the body is provided with a peripheral rim 2d that defines the inlet of the drain body, across which a grate 3 is positioned, in this case with the top of the grate flush with the surface 5 of the floor to be drained. From the rim 2d the side wall of the twopart drain body comprises a vertical succession of smooth annular surfaces 2e, 23, 2g, 2h, 2i and 21', the latter surface 2 sloping downwardly and inwardly to an opening 2k which receives the terminal of the drain pipe (not shown), whiohc-onduots the drainage liquid to a sewer or other point of disposal. In the present case the opening 2k is threaded for threaded attachment to the end of the drain pipe, but it will be understood that the opening may in modification be designed to receive-the end of the drain pipe'in a con- 3 ventional bell-and-spigot union. The threaded union 2c of the two parts of the drain body permits the upper body portion 2a to be vertically adjusted after the lower body portion 2b has been afiixed on the end of the drain pipe, whereby the top of the rim 2d may be brought flush with the surface 5 to be drained.

If the latter adjustment of the drain body is not required the two body parts 2:: andZb may be integrally formed in a single casting, as will be understood upon referring to my copending applications for Letters Patent, identified at the end of this specification. Also, upon referring to the showings of such copend-ing applications it will be understood that the form of the drain body inlet, as defined by rim 2d may be round, square, octag onal, or of other con-tour within the contemplation of my present invention.

It will be perceived that the internal surface of the side wall of the two-part drain body extends downward from the rim 2d in a series of smooth surface areas (22 to 2 that fair with one another, providing a downsweep that is unobstructed, having no recesses or ledges in which or upon which drainage water, or sediment, or debris may accumulate. Cooperating with this unrestricted downsweep form of the internal surface of the drain body is a slot formed within or by the grate body portion immediately within the rim 2d that defines the drain body inlet. This will be described later.

The lower portion of the drain body has a radially extending horizontal flange 2m upon which the usual subtloor membrane or flashing 2n of lead or tar paper is engaged by a metal washer 2p, secured by four clamps 2q engaged to corresponding lugs 2r cast integrally on the lower portion 2b of the drain body. These are conventional details of construction, and for present purposes it need only be remarked that any water seeping from the floor surface 5 downward between the drain body and the adjacent body of the floor is caught on the membrane and drained through weep holes 7 into the drain body.

The grate or perforate top 3 of the drain structure in this case is of general plate or disk-like form, comprising a central body portion that has an annular portion whose outer periphery is indicated at 3e. Within such annular portion spaced cross-bars or bearer-bars 3c form the open-Work body of the gate through which drainage liquid may enter the drain body therebelow. A feature of my structure consists, however, in the provision of a substantially continuous peripheral slot between the central perforate body of the grate and the outer edge of the rim 2d of the drain body. In Figs. 1 and 2, here under consideration, such slot is indicated at 10, formed by and between the outer edge 3e of the central body portion of the grate and the inner edge 3 of an outrider rim or peripheral portion 3a. The central body portion of the grate and the outrider rim portion are rigidly integrated by means of a plurality of relatively narrow lugs or spokes 3a that are widely spaced apart circumferentially of the grate, so that the slot 10, so far as flow of drainage liquid into the drain is concerned, forms a flushing slot that is substantially continuous throughout the peripheral extent of the drain structure. The greater part of any liquid to be drained from surface 5 is received by the slot 10, whence the liquid flows straight downwardly upon and over the unrestricted internal surfaces of the drain body below, thereby flushing such surfaces with a downsweeping flow of liquid and keeping them clean.

It is important to note than the top of the rim 2d of the drain body is sloped downwardly and inwardly from its outer peripheral or top edge, which is substantially flush with the surface 5 of the floor or other structure in which the drain is installed. Externally the drain body extends downwardly in a substantially vertical direction from its top peripheral or outer edge, providing a rim of great thickness (as indicated at the points where the lead lines of the reference character 2d are applied in Figs. 2 and 3) to provide a high structural strength beneath such peripheral or top edge, and to provide a drain body peripheral edge of substantial depth for lateral engagement by the substance of the floor structure within which the drain is installed. The nether surface of the rim portion 3a of the grate is correspondingly sloped, whereby the grate seats, as indicated at 311 in Fig. 2, upon an inclined surface that extends uninterrupted throughout the periphery of the drain body. The outer edge 3g of the rim portion 3a of the grate meets the outer edge of the rim 2d of the drain body at the floor surface 5, or substantially so, with the effect that none of the drain body is exposed to view in the floor surface. Manifestly, such grate, including as it does a rim portion (3a) forming a finish covering for the rim of the drain body, may be readily lifted from and returned to assembled position without injury to the floor surface adjacent to the drain installation. The grate structure may be removed and refinished, or renewed, or supplanted, as desired, and as noted the grate may be formed of a highly polished, relatively costly metal, while the drain body, entirely hidden below the floor surfiacc, may be formed of an inexpensive metal, or other suitable material.

The outrider rim portion 3a of the grate may include, as shown in Fig. 2, an integral, downwardly extending flange portion that engages the internal surface portion 22 of the drain body, thereby insuring the proper centering of the grate upon the drain body, and also inhibiting the tilting or slipping of the grate from centered position. Additional security of the assembled grate may be assured by means of one or more screws. In Figs. 1 and 2, two screws 3d are passed through two of the spokes 3a of the grate body into threaded engagement with bosses 2s formed integrally with the drain body.

In Fig. 2 a non-clog strainer is indicated by dotted lines 4, such illustration being given merely to indicate that such strainers may be used in the structure described. The detailed construction of the strainer will be understood. It comprises a perforate cup-shaped body 4 of cast iron, say, that seats at its rim upon the internal annular surface portion 2h of the drain body, and thus is supported upon the body in properly seated position. Any debris carried with drainage liquid through the openings between the cross bars 30 of the grate will be caught and retained in the strainer, while the liquid may pass through the openings in the strainer wall "and enter the drain below.

Whereas in Figs. 1 and 2 the rim portion 3a that overlies the rim 2d of the drain body forms a portion of or is integral with the grate 3, Fig. 3 illustrates fragmentarily that such rim portion may be formed as an outriding integral portion of the non-clog strainer 4m. More particularly, the annular rim of the cup-shaped body of the strainer is heavied-up and extended upwardly, to form a seat 4e on whch the grate 5 may peripherally seat. The annular finish rim portion 5a is integrally united to the rim of the strainer by means of lugs 40 that are spaced around the periphery of the strainer rim, after the manner that the lugs or spokes 3a are spaced circumferentially of the grate shown in Fig. 1. The finish rim portion 5a is shaped substantially as the rim portion 3a first described, and it engages the rim 2d of the drain body inlet on an inclined seat 5b, with the outer edge 5g of the rim portion flush with the outer edge of the drain body rim and with the floor surface, which surface is not shown in Fig. 3. The strainer is thus supported in desired position by the rim portion 5a that overlies and hides the drain body rim. The grate 5 in turn is seated at 4e upon the strainer body, and the assembly is secured by a bolt 5h extending downwardly through the center of the grate and strainer body into threaded engagement with a cross-strut 2! formed integrally with the upper drain body portion 2a. The peripheral flushing slot 10 of the drain structure is formed between the inner edge 57'' of the rim portion 5a and the outer edge 5e of the grate 5, and such slot is sufficiently narrow to exclude debris carried by the drainage'liquid. The spaces between the cross bars 50 of the grate permit the passage of the debris, which is caught and retained in the non-clog strainer 4m. To the extent that the strainer body is of perforate structure and spans the inlet opening of the drain body, the strainer may be considered a so-called secondary grate that carries integrally a finish rim portion (5a) that is within the contemplation of the appended claims.

In the structures of Figs. 4 and 5 the finish rim or flange portion 37 of the one-piece top or grate constitutes a cover to conceal the rim of the drain body, as in the case of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2. As shown, this grate or top may be secured to the drain body by screws, this being generally desirable to avoid pilfering. Furthermore, this complete top or surface trim type of grate may be readily removed for inspection of the drain, or for either refinishing the top or replacing it with a new top, thus restoring the original appearance and utility of the fixture, and this can be done without disturbing the adjoining tile or other floor construction.

It is to be emphasized that the meeting at the floor surface of the tapered finish rim portion of the grate and the conical top or seat of drain body provides results not possible in conventional drains provided with finished tops, wherein the rim of the drain body is rabbeted to receive the rim of the grate, leaving the outer portion of such drain body rim exposed at the floor surface, where such portion may become worn or damaged and cannot be refinished or replaced without removing the entire fixture from the floor structure and disconnecting it from the piping. This destroys the adjoining floor. In other conventional drains wherein a separate finished rim is provided and fastened to the top of the drain body, it is necessary to remove such rim in order to refinish it or install 'a new rim, and this cannot be done without destroying the adjoining tile or other floor construction.

In the previously described structures, it will be perceived that there are absolutely no exposed bosses or other obstructions in the drain bodies, wherefore the interior of the bodies may be dressed and polished in machine tools, and/ or the interior surfaces of the bodies may be readily finished with vitreous enamel.

In all of the structures illustrated herein it will be understood that the substantially continuous circumferential flushing slot is provided in the interval between the peripheral edge of the perforate body of the grate and the inner edge or body of the rim portion that screens the top edge or rim of the drain body, although it will be further understood that the cardinal feature is the provision in a one-piece top or grate of a rim portion that is tapered on its nether surface, to provide an outer peripheral edge of almost negligible thickness that meets the outer edge of the inclined seat on the drain body rim in the plane of the surface to be drained.

The one-piece renewable top features of this invention may also be used in the covers or surface plates for other fixture installations than the surface drains described.

Within the terms of the appended claims many other variations and modifications than those described may be practiced without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Notice is given that the application for these Letters Patent comprises a continuation-in-part of my application for Letters Patent Serial No. 649,537, filed February 23, 1946, and issued as Patent No. 2,607,434, August 19, 1952. Notice is also given of my copending applications for Letters Patent Serial No. 174,935 (now Patent No. 2,695,677) and No. 174,936 (now Patent No. 2,695,678), both filed July 20, 1950 and applications Serial Nos. 356,748 now abandoned; 356,749; and 356,750; all filed May 22,1953, and applications Serial Nos, 446,695 and 446,696, both filed July 30, 1954.

Iclaim:

1. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet and having a peripheral side wall extending downward from the rim of said inlet to an outlet, the internal surface of said drain body providing a continuous downsweep that is substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral extent of the side wall, said rim comprising a peripheral seat that is inclined inwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the drain body inlet, a grate comprising a perforate body portion having a peripheral edge and a peripheral rim portion spaced from and encompassing said edge, a plurality of relatively narrow lugs traversing the space between said edge and rim portion and rigidly uniting the grate body and rim portion at widely spaced-points peripherally of the grate structure, said rim portion being inclined on its nether surface to engage said inclined seat on the drain body, with the outer edges of said rim portion of the grate and said inclined seat meeting substantially in the plane of the surface to be drained, and the space between the peripheral edge of said perforate body portion of the grate and said rim portion forming a drain-body flushing slot that extends in substantial continuity throughout the periphery of said drain body inlet, whereby in service the entire internal surface of said side wall is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

2. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet and having a peripheral side wall extending downward from the rim of said inlet to an outlet, the internal surface of said drain body providing a continuous downsweep that is substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral extent of the side wall, said rim comprising a peripheral seat that is inclined inwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the drain body inlet, a grate comprising a perforate body portion having a peripheral edge and a peripheral rim portion spaced from and encompassing said edge, a plurality of relatively narrow lugs traversing the space between said edge and rim portion and rigidly uniting the grate body and rim portion at widely spaced points peripherally of the grate structure, said rim portion being inclined on its nether surface to engage said inclined seat on the drain body, with the outer edges of said rim portion of the grate and said inclined seat meeting substantially in the plane of the surface to be drained, a peripheral flange portion extending downwardly from said grate rim portion and engaging the drain bodywithin and below said inclined seat, and the space betwen the peripheral edge of said perforate body portion of the grate and said rim portion forming a drain-body flushing slot that extends in substantial continuity throughout the periphery of said drain body inlet, whereby in service the entire internal surface of said side wall is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

3. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet and having a peripheral side wall extending downward from the rim of said inlet to an outlet, the internal surface of said drain body providing a continuous downsweep that is substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral extent of the side wall, said rim comprising a peripheral seat that is inclined inwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the drain body inlet, a grate comprising a perforate body portion having a peripheral edge and a peripheral rim portion spaced from and encompassing said edge, a plurality of relatively narrow lugs traversing the space between said edge and rim portion and rigidly uniting the grate body and rim portion at widely spaced points peripherally of the grate structure, said rim portion being inclined on its nether surface to engage said inclined seat on the drain body, and the space between the peripheral edge of said perforate body portion of the grate and the body of said rim portion forming a drain-body flushing slot that extends in substantial continuity throughout the periphery of said drain body inlet, whereby in service the entire internal surface of said side wall is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

4. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet and having a peripheral side wall extending downward from the rim of said inlet to an outlet, the internal surface of said drain body providing a continuous downsweep that is substantially unrestricted throughout the peripheral extent of the side wall, said rim comprising a peripheral seat that is inclined inwardly and downwardly from the outer edge of the drain body inlet, a. grate comprising a perforate body portion having a peripheral edge and a peripheral rim portion spaced from and encompassing said edge, a plurality of relatively narrow lugs traversing the space between said edge and rim portion and rigidly uniting the grate body and rim portions at widely spaced points peripherally of the grate structure, said rim portion being inclined on its nether surface to engage said inclined seat on the drain body, a peripheral flange portion extending downwardly from said grate rim portion and engaging the drain body within and below said inclined seat, and the space between the peripheral edge of said perforate body portion of the grate and the body of said rim portion forming a drainbody flushing slot that extends in substantial continuity throughout the periphery of said drain body inlet, whereby in service the entire internal surface of said side wall is flushed by an unrestricted downsweeping flow of drainage liquid.

5. In a surface drain comprising a drain body provided with an inlet and having a peripheral side wall extending downward from the rim of said inlet to an outlet; the invention herein described wherein said rim comprises a downwardly and inwardly inclined seat, and a grate having a perforate central portion within a peripheral edge and a peripheral rim portion spaced from and encompassing said edge, said peripheral rim portion being inclined on its nether surface to engage said inclined seat, with the outer edge of said peripheral rim portion of the grate meeting the outer edge of said seat on the drain body at the plane of the surface to be drained, said inwardly inclined seat and said peripheral rim portion of the grate being inclined throughout the extent of their en gagement, and a plurality of relatively narrow lugs traversing the space between said edge and rim portion and rigidly uniting the grate body and rim portions at widely spaced points peripherally of the grate structure.

6. A device of the class described comprising a hollow body formed of relatively inexpensive rough-finish material adapted to be installed in a floor and to lie entirely beneath the surface of the floor, the top of said hollow body being open to form an inlet having a peripheral edge which lies substantially flush 'with the surface of said floor, with the wall of said hollow body extending externally downwardly from said peripheral edge to provide in such edge substantial vertical thickness and strength, the wall of the hollow body extending internally downwardly below said inlet and forming an outlet, said peripheral edge of the hollow body being formed as a seat that is inclined inwardly and downwardly from the outer periphery of said edge, and a removable finish rim formed of a relatively expensive high-finish material lying within the compass of the outer periphery of said edge and entirely covering said top of the hollow body, with no portion of the rough-finish hollow body covered by said finish rim exposed in said floor surface, said finish rim being inclined on its nether surface complementary to and engaging said inclined seat on the hollow body, the outer edge of said finish rim engaging the outer periphery of the said edge of the hollow body substantially in the plane of said floor surface, and a perforate grate portion formed integrally with and lying within the compass of said finish rim, with the top surface of said grate portion and the top surface of said finish rim extended in common with the plane of the surface of the floor, said integral finish rim and grate portion being removable from and replaceable upon said body without marring said floor surface, and means for removably securing said integral finish rim and grate portion to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 289,663 Langill Dec. 4, 1883 306,859 Posz Oct. 21, 1884 924,834 Ross June 15, 1909 1,434,254 Sanders Oct. 31, 1922 1,608,115 Nicdecken Nov. 23, 1926 1,830,065 Luff Nov. 3, 1931 2,001,830 Weir May 21, 1935 2,101,978 Boosey Dec. 14, 1937 2,161,783 Huber June 13, 1939 2,478,976 Modlin Aug. 16, 1949 2,550,402 Boosey Apr. 24, 1951 2,607,434 Sisk Aug. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,408 Netherlands Sept. 16, 1943 

